THE ENTOMOLOGIST. /^^'^ 



NOTES ON THE VAEIATION OF PERONEA CRIST AN A, 

 FAB., WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF SIX NEW FORMS, 

 AND THE REASONS FOR SINKING THE NAMES 

 AT PRESENT IN USE OF SIX OTHERS. 



By W. G. Sheldon, F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



Soon after my paper on this species in the ' Entomologist,' 

 vol. 1, was written, I became aware that numerous points in the 

 varietal nomenclature were doubtful, and required clearing up. 



Further stud}' convinced me that the solution of most of 

 these problems could only be obtained by an inspection of the 

 series of the late Sidney Webb, which was the only one in 

 Britain, so far as I knew, that could be considered a fairly 

 complete one. I made arrangements to visit Mr. Webb early 

 last year, but unfortunately at the appointed time he was seized 

 by what proved to be a fatal illness, and my visit became 

 impossible ; the whole series, however, passed into my hands 

 in April last, and thus I have been able to study the material 

 which I desired to see. 



The series is undoubtedly the most complete that was ever 

 got together, for Webb purchased the whole, or practically the 

 whole of the series of the late J. A. Clark, including all his 

 types ; and also that of the late Dr. P. B. Mason ; further, it 

 includes all the specimens which were in the collection of the 

 late Fred Bond — not a few in number, and extensive purchases 

 from the following amongst other collections : H. Burney, 

 Howard Vaughan, S. Stevens, A. F. Sheppard, F. 0. Standish 

 and P. Harper, all of whom made a special effort to acquire 

 cristana forms. In all there were over 1200 specimens, and 

 representatives of every form that has ever been named. 



Most of the specimens are in excellent condition, but many 

 of them are old : quite a number in fact are set on the old 

 round-headed pins that generally went out of use about the 

 year 1850. The great bulk, however, are set on white or gilt 

 pins of the form now used, and they would thus date — or most 

 of them would — from 1850 to 1880. The remainder, of which 

 I think the great majority came from Clark, are set on black 

 pins, and would thus date from, say, 1880 to 1910, after which 

 I do not think any additions were made. Of course these dates 

 are approximate, and those given for the specimens on black pins 

 ENTOM. — December, 1920. aa 



